September Planting: What to Plant in Your Region

While many of our gardens start winding down in September, southern areas of the United States are coming into prime gardening season. Even if you garden in the northern regions, there are still things you can plant this month to keep your vegetable garden producing well. Find out more about September planting, and begin a fall garden.

Autumn is an ideal time to take advantage of the cooler weather.

Depending on where you live, some vegetables and herbs grow just as great in the fall as they do in the spring. Growing an autumn garden allows you to keep fresh produce on the table without having to tend to a garden in the hot, summer sun.

You will just want to know when the first frost is expected. Then you can plan your fall garden based on that information. To find out that date, determine the number of days to maturity per vegetable then count back the number of days from the first average frost date. Maturity information is typically on seed packets.

Most everything you plant in spring you can grow in your fall garden, too. These are cool season plants, meaning they will tolerate a light frost, thrive in short daylight hours and perform best with mild temperatures. Some vegetables even taste better when nipped by a light frost.

What to Plant in September: Veggies by Region

Below are lists organized by U.S. region of which vegetables and herbs you can plant in September.

Unless specifically listed as “transplants,” the items in this list can be directly sown in your garden during September. Check out all of the veggies that you can plant in September.

Northern U.S. and Southern Canada

These vegetables can be planted in the fall throughout the Central U.S. and Midwest:

Arugula

Collard greens

Lettuce

Mache

Mustard greens

Peas

Radishes

Spinach

Turnips

New England and the Mid-Atlantic Region

Whether you’re in Massachusetts or Maryland, these veggies do well when planted in September:

Arugula

Bok Choy

Lettuce

Mache

Radishes

Spinach

North Central U.S., Rocky Mountains

These are good vegetables to plant in September if you’re in the North Central part of the U.S.:

Arugula

Lettuce

Mache

Spinach

Pacific Northwest

Plant these vegetables during September if you live in the Pacific Northwest:

Arugula

Bok Choy

Collard greens

Lettuce

Mache

Mustard greens

Radishes

Spinach

Southeast/Gulf Coast Region

Here are a few vegetables to plant in September if you live in the Gulf Coast region:

Arugula

Beets

Bok Choy

Broccoli (Transplants)

Brussels Sprouts (Transplants)

Carrots

Cauliflower (Transplants)

Collard greens

Kale

Lettuce

Mustard greens

Radishes

Spinach

Turnips

Southwest

If you live in the Southwest, consider planting these vegetables this fall: